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York protest seeks fairness in hiring for work at Homes at Thackston Park

The York Housing Authority and the general contractor denied discrimination and said they've worked hard to hire minorities and York residents.

By ED MAHON Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
03/26/2013 07:22:07 AM EDT

York, PA -

Carrying signs that read "Economic Opportunity," "Inclusion" and "YHA Discriminates," about 20 people protested Monday outside the Homes at Thackston Park in York.

They said that not enough racial and ethnic minorities, low-income workers and city residents have been hired for the public housing project. Those that have been offered jobs haven't been offered ones at their skill level, protesters said.

"This project had promised inclusion," said Sandra Thompson, president of the York chapter of the NAACP. "...They did not follow up with those promises."

Ron Kent was one of about 20 people who protested at the Homes at Thackston Park in York Monday. Protesters said that not enough racial and ethnic minorities, low-income workers and city residents have been hired. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- PAUL KUEHNEL)

Officials with the York Housing Authority and with the general contractor for the project both denied discrimination.

W. Craig Zumbrun, deputy executive director of the authority, arrived at the protest scene after it had started. He said project leaders had multiple job fairs and did other outreach to try to increase the number of local people hired.

"We went to every door. We put a flier at every door," Zumbrun told the crowd. "...We are trying like crazy to get local people to step up and apply."

"We've been applying," one man called out.

Stephan Young, a division manager in the Media, Pa., office of Harkins Builders Inc., said they have hired several York area and minority businesses as subcontractors. He said subcontractors had hired five local people as of last week and were expected to hire three or more this week.

"It's going to be ongoing, through the duration of the project," Young said.

Harkins Builders works as a manager of the project, and subcontracts out most of the work. Young said subcontractors have committed to hiring locally for 13 positions. And Young said he has reset that goal to 29.

"It's been in response to ongoing dialogue," Young said.

Young said one challenge is that many subcontractors had to lay off employees in recent years, and they use project money to retain current employees -- not for hiring new ones. But he said they are still encouraging those subcontractors to hire locally.

Monday's protest began around noon, continued through snowfall and lead to an extensive back-and-forth between protesters and Zumbrun, the housing authority official.

Ron Kent, 54, of York, said he's a skilled laborer. He sought a job at the site, and he said the offered hourly rate decreased. He said the final opportunity was for $7.25 an hour, which is the federal minimum wage, and it would have only lasted two weeks on clean up.

"I'd like to see them leave here because of what they're doing. It's unfair," Kent said.

Zumbrun told protesters he believes everyone is being paid above minimum wage, and that he'd like to know more about where they heard about a $7.25 hourly rate.

W. Craig Zumbrun, left, deputy executive director of the York Housing Authority, talks with Sandra Thompson, right, president of the York chapter of the NAACP, while some protesters listen between them.
(DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -- PAUL KUEHNEL)

The protestors said hiring officials told them, and Zumbrun said he wanted to find out more.

James Woodard, of York, described himself as U.S. Navy veteran and electrician. He said he applied for a general laborer position. His resume was reviewed, and he was told it would be forwarded to the electrical contractor. Woodard said he never heard back after that.

"We continually build ... multi-million dollar facilities, and how many of those facilities do you see have minorities on the job site?" Woodard said.

@edmahonreporter; 771-2089

About the project

Officials held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Homes at Thackston Park in October.

The project, a $12 million deal financed through a federal tax credit program, will replace 28 aging housing units at Codorus Homes with 39 new units at Helen Thackston Park, according to previous reports.

About Section 3

The Section 3 program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says that certain recipients of HUD financial assistance should, "to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods."

Protesters said Monday that they want the York Housing Authority to require contractors to develop a Section 3 plan detailing how they will comply with those requirements.

W. Craig Zumbrun, deputy executive director of the York Housing Authority, said Harkins Builders has signed an agreement to follow the authority's Section 3 and minority engagement reporting requirements.

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